Shadow Gallery – Digital Ghost (2009)

Sunday, 01 November 2009

Shadow Gallery – Digital Ghost (2009)

Another great 2009 return. Unfortunatelly marked by the death of their former (and amazing if you ask about my oppinion) vocalist Mike Baker. Shadow Gallery members have declared in the last year that they would keep on and record this album to honor fans and mosto a all to honor Mike’s memory.

This new project is composed by 7 tracks plus 4 on the limited edition digipack (which I strongly suggest to get by the way). I have to be honest by saying that I was caught quite surprised when asked to review this CD since I did not know Shadow Gallery had already found someone to sing on Mike’s place but as I started to listen to the first two tracks “With Honor” (I was touched even by the choice of this title for the first track since Mike Baker was for sure one of the best prog singers for me and his death has indeed to be honored) and Venom I realized that Brian Ashland was not bad…on the contrary. Of course there some similarities, but he was also able to add some personal carisma as well. Musically I was not surprised of Digital Ghost’s high quality once Shadow Gallery members are usually on high standards and the CD is very pleasant to listen (even more to write about, since I was able to listen to it more than once).

On the other hand Digital Ghost is not a masterpiece as their previous album “Room V” (which set their career higher ground until now and Baker’s best performance ever) and for that the CD is maybe I step backward, but sometimes one must do that in order to make two steps forward in the near future. We have to give them time to know each other a little more, but in the meanwhile they have already left some quite amazing marks such as tracks 2 (Venom), 4 (Gold Dust) and title track Digital Ghost (should we see this track as another reference to Mike’s influence on the creative process?) which are the 3 best songs on the album.

To top the review off I shall give my final oppinion to it: If I give attention to emotions I must give 10 because Shadow Gallery is a great part of my musical preference and their return makes me glad as a child, but musically is 8,5…So, final vote 9 (and a strong suggestion to get this album as soon as possible and the certain that the next one will be even better). One final note: The song “Haunted” will make you tear if listened carefully.

Track Listing

Title

Length

"With Honor"